Forces Engaged: Army of the Tennessee [US]; two corps of Army of Tennessee
[CS]

Estimated Casualties: 3,562 total (US 562; CS 3,000)

Description: Earlier, Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman’s forces had approached
Atlanta from the east and north. Hood had not defeated them, but he had
kept them away from the city. Sherman now decided to attack from the west.
He ordered the Army of the Tennessee, commanded by Maj. Gen. O.O. Howard,
to move from the left wing to the right and cut Hood’s last railroad supply
line between East Point and Atlanta. Hood foresaw such a maneuver and determined
to send the two corps of Lt. Gen. Stephen D. Lee and Lt. Gen. Alexander
P. Stewart to intercept and destroy the Union force. Thus, on the afternoon
of July 28, the Rebels assaulted Howard at Ezra Church. Howard had anticipated
such a thrust, entrenched one of his corps in the Confederates’ path, and
repulsed the determined attack, inflicting numerous casualties. Howard,
however, failed to cut the railroad.